tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post5211947654136289337..comments2024-03-28T18:32:05.933-04:00Comments on bensozia: Coming Together on Criminal Justice ReformJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01037215533094998996noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-85603109187018690732018-11-15T13:31:16.866-05:002018-11-15T13:31:16.866-05:00I'm waiting for Trump to change his mind after...I'm waiting for Trump to change his mind after Steven Miller talks to him. Steven Miller is worse, luckily he has no direct line of authority. It's only what he can convince his boss to do, which turns out to be a lot.Shadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05353532874773316117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-72331761294294663522018-11-15T11:40:40.525-05:002018-11-15T11:40:40.525-05:00I'm well among those who think Trump is a dang...I'm well among those who think Trump is a dangerous race-baiter and demagogue who's been a disaster for the country. But if he could achieve this, that would be wonderful. It wouldn't change my mind about him as a whole, but I would cheer. And give him credit. I hope Dems work with him on this and don't try to manipulate him into going back on his promise in order to make him look bad. I think the fact that he made the announcement surrounded by Republicans is promising. Earlier in his term there was a moment where he had dinner with some Dems and it looked like he was going to make a deal with them, and then he backed off and absolutely refused. I presume there may have been in this some mix of Mitch McConnell and other Republican lions telling him to not do that sort of thing, and a desire on his own part to stick a finger in the eye of liberal media outlets who were saying things like, "he's not so bad after all!"<br /><br />On localities funding themselves with criminal fines: in the case of Ferguson, at least, this was less a matter of the locality being too small or poor to afford things, and more a matter of keeping taxes low on "respectable" citizens.<br /><br />Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08993570411881726772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-17765371481421913912018-11-15T11:23:29.455-05:002018-11-15T11:23:29.455-05:00And it won't always be only judges. Social wo...And it won't always be only judges. Social workers, psychologists, and other experts will interview and provide recommendations on many cases. This is a good idea.<br /><br /><i>"Post-Ferguson exposés of the ways some local jurisdictions use fines and the threat of jail time to extort money from poor citizens have also played a part, especially in moves to reduce bail for non-murderous offenders."</i><br /><br />Not all hamlets can afford to be their own jurisdictions, and I wish states would recognize this and try to legislate some sort of solution. If you can't afford the two-man police force and the judge and mayor without creating speed traps and other revenue making schemes, maybe you can't afford to be your own town and need to be incorporated into a larger one.Shadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05353532874773316117noreply@blogger.com